The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Procedure

The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB) operation is the most commonly performed surgical weight loss procedure. It is considered to be one of the most effective and long-lasting solutions for obesity in the world today.

A small pouch is created by dividing the stomach, thereby restricting the amount of food that you can consume. Next, a section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch, allowing food to bypass the upper gastral intestinal tract. This dramatically reduces the amount of food—and nutrients—that your body can absorb.

Bariatric operations that cause malabsorption and that restrict food intake produce more weight loss than operations that decrease food increase alone. With a bypass operation, you can expect to lose two-thirds of the excess weight within two years. Along with helping you achieve a healthier weight, surgery also can help resolve most of the illnesses associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes and sleep apnea. In addition, the surgery and the resulting weight loss has been shown to add years onto your life. This procedure is generally performed using a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique.

Naturally, as with all elective surgeries, there are some risks associated with these procedures. However, there are also critical risks associated by taking no action regarding your health.

Courtesy, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. All rights reserved.